18 Indian fishermen arrested for violating maritime border

KARACHI: Pakistani marine forces have arrested 18 Indian fishermen for violating territorial waters in the Arabian Sea, police said Sunday.

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Pakistan’s Maritime Security Agency (MSA) detained the fishermen after they strayed into Pakistani waters, and they were handed over to local police in the port city of Karachi.

“The MSA has handed over 18 arrested Indian fishermen to police who will be presented before the docks police for further investigation,” told senior police official.

Such arrests are frequently carried out by both countries, as the maritime border in the Arabian Sea is poorly defined and many fishing boats lack the technology needed to be certain of their precise location.

The fishermen often languish in jail even after serving their term, as poor diplomatic ties between the two arch-rivals mean fulfilling official requirements can take a long time.

Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours have taken a turn for the worse in recent months, with shelling on the disputed border in Kashmir.

In August Pakistan released 163 Indian fishermen as an expression of goodwill.

In October, marine forces arrested 27 Indian fishermen and impounded their four boats after they strayed into Pakistani waters.